Meller's Duck
Anas melleri
Large brown duck that is endemic to eastern Madagascar. Its plain brown plumage, blue-gray bill, and large size distinguish it from all other ducks in Madagascar. In flight, look for green and white stripes in the wing. Found mostly at middle elevations, on lakes, streams, rivers, and freshwater wetlands that are usually within or adjacent to rainforest. Rare and endangered.
识别特征
The Meller's duck resembles a large female mallard. At 55–65 centimetres (22–26 in), it averages slightly larger than a mallard and is at the top size for the genus Anas. However, as opposed to most mallard relatives, they lack a supercilium. The speculum feathers are green as in some of its relatives, but unlike in these, it is bordered white as in the mallard. Its body is dark brown with narrow paler fringes to feathers on upper parts and wider fringes on lower parts. Its bill is pale grey, with dark patches at the base, and is larger than normal. Its feet and legs are orange.
分类信息
- 学名
- Anas melleri
- 命名信息
- Sclater, PL, 1865
- 目
- Anseriformes
- 科
- Anatidae
- 属
- Anas
分布与栖息地
- 迁徙
- Resident species
行为
Meller's duck breeds apparently during most of the year except May–June on Madagascar, dependent on local conditions; the Mauritian population has been recorded to breed in October and November. Unlike most of their closer relatives—with the exception of the African black duck—they are fiercely territorial during the breeding season; furthermore, pairs remain mated until the young are independent.
保护状况
This species is listed as an endangered species by the IUCN Red List. The Lac Alaotra wetlands, where historically the largest number of these birds was to be found, have suffered habitat destruction on a large scale in the latter half of the 20th century, and local waterbird populations have declined dramatically. The Madagascar pochard was rediscovered in 2006, though not in the Lac Alaotra area.<p>The conservation of this species was long hampered by its—entirely erroneous, see below—dismissal as a variant of the mallard which deserved no special interest. Due to its drab plumage and territorial habits, this species is not very popular among aviculturalists, although it reproduces readily in captivity like most ducks if enough space and good habitat are provided. Although a captive breeding program exists (part of the European Endangered Species Programme), the species is not very often kept in zoos either; it can be more frequently seen in Europe, such as in EEP members Cologne Zoo, Edinburgh Zoo, Durrell Wildlife Park, and Zürich Zoo.[citation needed]
- 种群趋势
- declining
照片
分布
其他鸟类
Black-fronted Piping-Guan
Pipile jacutinga
Rare, threatened, and spectacularly-plumaged black-and-white guan with a long black tail. Head is striking with bold white eyering and shaggy white cap contrasting with its red and blue wattle, its blue, black-tipped bill, and its black face. Usually seen in the canopy of large and well-preserved patches of montane and lowland Atlantic Forest. The song is a high-pitched rising whistle, but also often makes distinctive wing-whirrs like other guans.
Streak-throated Hermit
Phaethornis rupurumii
Drab hummingbird with a white tipped tail found in northern South America, ranging west as far as eastern Colombia. Like other hermits, it has a dark mask bordered by buffy stripes and a long bill. The blurry dark streaks on its throat and breast help to separate it from other similar species. These streaks are variable, and on adult males they nearly form a solid dark patch, but females and young birds may only show a few small blotches. Found in a variety of habitats including seasonally flooded rainforest along the Amazon and drier and scrubbier forest in hilly terrain. Uncommon to rare in most of its range.
Yellow-fronted Woodpecker
Melanerpes flavifrons
Multicolored, gregarious medium-sized woodpecker. Note black wings, tail, and mask, yellow forehead and eyering, white rump, and red belly bordered with dark bars. Males have a red crown and neck, which is black in females. Found in moist forests, second growth and sometimes plantations. The call is a loud “kiki-kiki-kirikiki.”
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